All rounder Milnes joins Derbyshire

Following the signings of international batsmen Hamish Rutherford and Neil Broom, Derbyshire County Cricket Club has completed the signing of all-rounder Tom Milnes from Warwickshire.

Milnes, who has featured in 15 first-class fixtures claiming 26 wickets including career-best figures of 7-39, has signed a two-year deal and will bolster the county’s options for the 2016 season.

The 22-year-old has been on loan at Derbyshire since July and made his first-class debut for the Club in the LV= County Championship fixture versus Surrey at the Kia Oval at the start of September.

He also featured in five fixtures for the Second XI, claiming 22 wickets at an average of 14, and he was part of the side that won the Second XI One-Day Trophy at Chester-le-Street last month.

Elite Performance Director Graeme Welch said: “Tom has impressed me both on and off the field during his spell with us. He is a talented young lad who wants to improve and develop his game.

“The squad already looks strong going in to 2016 with increased batting options in Hamish, Neil and now Milnes who will provide an extra option with both bat and ball.”

Milnes added: “I’m delighted to sign with Derbyshire for the next two years. I’ve enjoyed my loan spell with the Club and feel that this is the right place for me to develop my game and produce runs and wickets at the highest level.”

Meanwhile. Derbyshire players Alice Dyson and Sarah Glenn have been included in England Women’s Winter Development Programme.

Seam bowler Dyson and leg-spinner Glenn, who are both 16 years old, will take part in a training camp at the National Cricket Performance Centre in Loughborough.

The Development Programme will commence in October and will run through into the New Year for the two Derbyshire youngsters who are included in a squad of 19 players. ECB’s Director of England Women’s Cricket, Clare Connor, said: “The England women’s cricket pathway is wider reaching and better resourced than ever before, and it is particularly encouraging to see some exciting young prospects coming through from the England Women’s Development Programme.

“We saw during the Women’s Ashes series this summer that the standard of international women’s cricket is constantly being pushed forwards and we must ensure that we have a structure in place that produces a continual stream of talented players, who are ready to perform in an England shirt if the opportunity arises.”